Culture of Bhutan

The
culture of Bhutan is among the oldest in the world - carefully guarded and
well preserved.

PEOPLE: Bhutan essentially has three main
ethnic groups: the Sharchop in the east, who originated from the tribes of
northern Burma and northeast India; the Ngalops in the west, who introduced
Buddhism to Bhutan after migrating from Tibet; and the Lhotsampas in the
south, originally belonging to Nepal. The overall population of Bhutan is
around 700,000.

Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is one of the
large towns in Bhutan. Farming is the main occupation of the people of
Bhutan, who live in small rural villages. Most of these villages are
secluded and even in the modern world of today, are accessible only by foot.
But some people, with the help of education, are migrating to towns in
search of other occupations.

LANGUAGE: Dzongkha is the
official language of Bhutan, but many regions in Bhutan still retain their
native dialects due to their isolation. Apart from Dzongkha, English remains
the only other medium of instruction in Bhutan.

RELIGION:
The Tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism is the official religion of Bhutan. It
is an important factor in the development of Bhutanese society. Villages in
Bhutan are strewn with temples and religious structures, which are present
along the roads and trails. One can also see many prayer flags on the hills
and high passes, fluttering in the breeze. Almost every home in Bhutan has a
special area called a chosum, which is a small shrine, or a special room
used for prayers.
ARCHITECTURE: Traditionally Bhutanese houses are made out of mud,
bamboo, and wood. The doors and windows of Bhutanese houses are decorated
with animal, religious, or floral designs. The houses usually consist of
three stories. The cattle and other animals of the house reside on the
ground floor, the second floor is for storage, and on the third floor are
the living quarters, which often also have the shrine (i.e. Chosum). Hay,
dry vegetables and meat are stored in the open-air between the third floor
and the roof. The most important feature of Bhutanese houses is the prayer
flag placed in the centre of the roof.

Bhutanese architecture is
characterized by structural designs and exterior paintwork (shapes, colors,
and patterns), representing national identity and traditional meanings.
Dzongs (fortresses), Gompas (monasteries), Chortens (shrines/stupas),
Lakhangs (temples) and houses are some of the impressive and important
structures in Bhutan. Most of the monasteries and temples throughout Bhutan
are built on steep hillsides and in other remote places. This ensures that
the monks get solitude and serenity. All the monasteries in Bhutan have some
common features though they also have their own design. Monasteries here
have a central chapel with statues and separate sleeping quarters for the
monks. There are prayer wheels around the outside and a round gold-coloured
ornament on the roof. Temples are not very different from monasteries in
design and look; the only difference between them is that they do not house
monks.

DRESS: The national dress of Bhutan originated from the time of the
first Shabdrung. The men in Bhutan wear a "gho," a long
knee-length robe that is tied around the waist by a belt and the women wear
a "kira," which is an ankle-length dress worn with a short jacket.
To preserve the ancient customs from being influenced by the West, the
Bhutanese government has made it compulsory for all Bhutanese to wear only
their national dress in public.

SPORT: Bhutan's national
sport is Archery, which is played here with unique Bhutanese rules and
equipment. The traditional bows and arrows are made out of bamboo and the
teams of archers shoot at targets with amazing precision from a good
distance.

FOOD: The Bhutanese diet is rich in meat and
poultry, dairy, grain and vegetables. Rice and chillies are the major
features of Bhutanese diet. Emadatse (chilly pepper and cheese stew) is
considered the national dish with many interpretations of this recipe
throughout the country. Poultry and meat dishes, pork, beef and yak, are
lavishly spiced with chillies, and it is common to see bright red peppers
drying on rooftops in the sun. Salted butter tea, or suja, is served on all
social occasions. Chang, a local beer, and arra, a spirit distilled from
rice, maize, wheat or barley, are also common and widely favoured. Doma or
betel nut is offered as a customary gesture of greeting. The chillies are
considered a vegetable and not just a spice. Bhutanese dishes are mostly
fiery but uniquely Bhutanese in every sense.